Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-07
NRwpORr NEWS
Asd the Cattle Industry OF vfrgiuia-
Pleuro- Pnsumonfa in Cattle.
SALrvnLB, VA, January

SALrvnLs, VA, January 5, 1887.
To The Editor of the Dispatch:
E That Newport News, by reason Of its
favorable location at the terminus OF the
great Eewport.News aud Mississippi-V Val.
lev rallway, which stretches across the con-
s,nept, with connections penetrating all the
principal cattle-growing regions Of the
West and Southwest, Is destined to play
an important part In the cattle commerce
Of tins country DOES not admit OF doubt.
Your correspondent has for several years,
through the several national breeders asso-
ciations Of which he is q member, and by
personal appeals TO the authorities at WASH
ipgton, endeavored to secure Government
quarantine station at Newport News. -Four
or i've years ago Congress made an appro-
priation for the purpose OF establishing
number Of such stations at suitable ports
upon the Atlantic coast, but the commits
sion to whom was intrusted the location OF
these stations could see nothing to ad.
miro south Of Mason & Dixon's line, and
they were nearly all located at northern
ports, and the money spent Ia the interests
Of northern people and northern railroads.
That Newport News Is most fayorably
located for such station must be admitted
by oil, and there are good reasons why II
would speedily become the most popular
Fort upon the Atlantic coast for quarantine
ing imported cattle. AtNewport News the
rigorous winters OF the northern ports, as
well as the extreme heat OF the more south
ern ports, would be avoided, food supplies
would be found much cheaper than In the
larger cities Of the North, and the facilities
for shipping to the great breeding districts
Of the country all that could be desired.
The writer has bad large experience In
shipping live stock, and over various lines
OF transportation, but from none has here
ceived more consideration or more liberal
treatment than from the management OF
what Is now known as the Newport-News
and Mississippi Valley railway. The Gov
eminent cannot much longer disregard the
wishes OF very large proportion OF the
cattIe-importers Of this country, and New
port News must at an early day become the
leading import station for live stock upon
the Atlantic coast.
Already there are signs that this Young
city will also become very important ex-
port station for cattle products. 1t Is stated
upon what seems 10 be good authority that
q company Of northern capitalists, with
capital stock OF million dollars. has pur.
chased property near the city for the pur-
pose Of establishing cattie-yards and en-
gaging in Strengthening cattle for export 10
European markets. This is only the begin
ming OF what should become leading In
dustry In this important seaport town.
During The last nine months OF the past
year there were exported from the United
States to Great Britain alone $4,000 live
cattle and over $52,000.000 worth OF
dressed carcasses. For the week ending
December 4fh there were exported from
Boston 465 live cattle and 1890 quarters Of
beef, equal to 1,045 cattle In all. The same
week there were exported from the city OF
New York $50 live cattle and 5000 quar-
tiers CT dressed beef, equal to 1900 cattle in
all. Is there any reason why Newport
News should not export as many cattle as
Boston. Virginia grows more beeves than
all the New England States together. For
almost century the finest Christmas
beeyes Of the Philadelphia markets have
been annually furnished frsmthe bluegrass
pastures Of Southwest Virginia and sthe
senzndoah Valley, and OF recent wears
very large number Of the best Virginia
cattle have been purchased by New York
buyers for export to England. These cat
Gle should certainly rexch the English mar
kets Il q much less cost through Virginia
port than by way Of New. York.
Thousands Of stock.oattle are annually
shipped from Southwest Virginia TO Penn.
sylysnia and Maryland corn-growers 10 be
firened for the shambles, aud thousands Of
farmers In those States have grown rich aud
have made their farms rich by feeding Ylr-
ginia cattle, Why should not the farmers
Of Eastern Virgins, who have been i'm
poyefishing themselves and their farms by
tobacco-raislng, profit by the example Of
their wiser brethren OF these States. pur-
chase these cattle from their Virginia
breeders, ship them over Virginia railroads
TO Virginia farms, feed them upon Virginia
corn, and send them through Virginia
ports, and In Virginia ships, 10 the beef
markets Of the Old W6rldi VIII the farm
srs OF Virginia emHace The opportunities
that lie before them, or will they compel
their own markets 10 draw their supplies
from the eattle-gro wing regions OF the Westf
A farm that will grow tobacco WIN grow
good cora. and al q greatly reduced cost OF
cultivation. Plenty Of corn, with small
quantity OF hay or eorn.fodder, either dry
or cDsilaged, will make fat cattle. Feeding
cattle fcf the SHAMELESS Is generally very
and under the most unfayorabie
viii pay good price for the
grain and other forage consumed, and
enables the farmer 10 return 10 the soil IN
he shape oi manure the entire product Of
~ farm. The great fertility OF thousands
4 Pennsylvania and Maryland farms, now
rnIned n from 500 10 600 per acre, Il due
o this sysfem Of fsrmiDg. The motto Of |
beef {aIlDtr11s; "The more cora, the more |
'et1je, We more rattle. the more manure; |
re m62t manure, the more money!
The writer recalls story about a. old